Tag Archives: remote technology

If the LIFX Kickstarter-funded project gets to market, you’ll be able to control your home's lighting system from your smartphone. Like the remotely-controlled thermostats that are also on their way, your home’s Wi-Fi connection can be used to remotely control “LIFX” LED bulbs.

Kickstarter is the world’s largest crowdfunding platform for creative projects. As a result of their posting on Kickstarter, the inventors of LIFX raised $260,000 of their $100,000 goal in two days. LIFX's position on top of the tech section for the social news website Reddit doesn't hurt either.

Using the LIFX app that controls the bulbs you can turn them on and off and adjust their brightness from your smartphone. LIFX bulbs are designed to save energy and should last up to 25 years. The bulbs screw into the same light sockets as any other bulbs. The app will be available for both iOS and Android.

In addition to turning the bulbs on and off, the project creators are designing the app so that you can choose brightness for individual bulbs, a room full of them or every bulb in your house. The lighting system in your home is directed by a “master” bulb that connects to your home router box via 802.11n and then onto all the other LIFX bulbs in your home via an IPV6 802.15.4 mesh network.

In trade for funding dollars, backers of the project who pledge $69 get one LIFX bulb, $99 for two and $196 for 4. Serious investors willing to commit $5,000 receive 100 LIFX bulbs.

Could you see yourself using a home lighting system that you can run from your smartphone or other wireless device? What would you be willing to pay for one of these bulbs?